Oops! I seem to have bought more crafty clutter ...

I'm supposed to be cutting down on the crafty clutter, using up my existing supplies and not buying new.  But ...  

Sometimes you have to snap up a bargain when it's put under your nose.  A fiver bought me a bagful of ribbons - always useful to have a selection - and three printing stamps from a local charity shop.  Someone who'd previously been into papercrafting must've had a massive clean out 'cause there were dozens of stamps, a Sissix machine, and all kinds of odds & ends in the shop.  

When this kind of thing happens, It's like you get little glances into strangers lives.  Suddenly the charity shop's home to dozens of books about stamp collecting or DVDs about steam trains.  There are a shelf full of Mills & Boon paperbacks or stacks of maps and field guides. It's always poignant when you see several packs of Tena as it's very likely an elderly person's died and the family's had to clear out their house.  A grim task that many of us have to do at some point.

But back to my bargains - I also spent a fiver on this lot.  Blank cards and envelopes, a carrier bag full of 'em, purchased via marketplace on Facebook.  

I'm going to try printing on to cards, or maybe cutting up gell prints and making collages.  Possibly doing a wee bit of 'textile art' too, little embroideries, that kind of thing.  It'll keep me occupied during the dull, long days of January, when we're all broke and overfed and desperate for sunshine and milder weather.  

On to other matters:  I came across several scrappy blocks that needed joining together while I was searching for something else.  So I got that small task done.  

I also made a couple more of these mini fabric dolls.  I'd previously made two of them, but thought the method of sewing them together required a few tweaks.  I reckon this couple will end up dangling from the Christmas tree along with various homemade snowmen and sparkly fairies.  

I don't go in for co-ordinated, restrained tree decorations, all matchy-matchy and super stylish.  My tree gets overloaded with anything and everything!  I was going to put up the decorations today, but got side tracked.  I'll give the front room a good clean tomorrow, then up goes the tree.  It's an artificial one as my housewifey skills don't run to hoovering up endless pine needles that've embedded themselves in the carpet, even though a real tree's a joyful thing and smells wonderful.  

Right, that's all for now.  Enjoy what's left of your weekend.  Bye!